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H5608 Explained: Rhode Island's Assault Weapon and Magazine Ban Complete Guide

Gun safety policy remains one of the most debated legislative issues across the U.S., with states regularly updating regulations to balance public safety and Second Amendment rights. In June 2025, Rhode Island joined a growing list of states to enact restrictions on military-style firearms with the signing of Senate Bill 359 (S.359), also known as the Rhode Island Assault Weapons Ban Act of 2025. The companion House bill was H.5436, sponsored by Rep. Jason Knight. Rhode Island had already banned large-capacity magazines exceeding 10 rounds in 2022. For Rhode Island gun owners, firearms dealers, and general residents, these laws have sparked widespread confusion about what is restricted, who qualifies for exemptions, and what steps you need to take to stay compliant. This guide breaks down every key provision of Rhode Island's assault weapons and magazine ban laws in plain language, with no confusing legalese, to help you understand exactly how the new law affects you.

Table of Contents#

  1. What Is the Rhode Island Assault Weapons Ban, and When Does It Take Effect?
  2. Core Restrictions Under the Assault Weapons Ban 2.1 Prohibited Firearms Definition and Prohibited Features 2.2 Large-Capacity Magazine Limits (Separate 2022 Law)
  3. Full List of Exemptions
  4. Requirements for Current Gun Owners of Grandfathered Items
  5. Penalties for Violations
  6. Common Misconceptions Debunked
  7. Next Steps for Rhode Island Residents
  8. References

What Is the Rhode Island Assault Weapons Ban, and When Does It Take Effect?#

S.359 was introduced in the Rhode Island Senate on February 21, 2025, by Senators DiPalma, Lawson, Gallo, Sosnowski, LaMountain, Felag, Murray, Vargas, McKenney, and Lauria. The companion House bill (H.5436) was sponsored by Rep. Jason Knight and nine co-sponsors. The House approved the legislation on June 5, 2025, by a vote of 43-28, and the Senate passed it on June 20, 2025. Governor Dan McKee signed the bill into law on June 26, 2025.

The stated legislative intent of the bill is to reduce the risk of mass casualty shooting events in the state by restricting access to firearms designed for rapid, high-volume fire. According to Everytown for Gun Safety research, assault weapons with military-style features have been used in at least nine out of the 10 mass shooting incidents with the most casualties between 2015 and 2022.

The law goes into effect on July 1, 2026. After this date, no new manufacture, sale, transfer, or purchase of prohibited firearms is allowed for non-exempt individuals in Rhode Island. Importantly, the law does not ban possession — anyone who lawfully owns a covered firearm before July 1, 2026, may keep it under the law's grandfather clause.

Core Restrictions Under the Assault Weapons Ban#

Prohibited Firearms Definition and Prohibited Features#

The bill defines prohibited firearms in several categories. For semi-automatic rifles with detachable magazines, the law uses a single-feature test — meaning only one prohibited feature is needed for the firearm to qualify as a prohibited firearm:

  1. Semi-automatic rifles with fixed magazines exceeding 10 rounds: Any semi-automatic rifle with a fixed magazine capacity of more than 10 rounds is prohibited.
  2. Semi-automatic rifles that accept a detachable magazine with any one of the following features:
    • Folding or telescoping stock
    • Bayonet mount
    • Grenade launcher
    • Shroud attached to the barrel or that partially or completely encircles the barrel (allowing the bearer to hold the firearm with the non-trigger hand without being burned)
    • Pistol grip or thumbhole stock
    • Flash suppressor or threaded barrel designed to accommodate a flash suppressor
  3. Semi-automatic pistols with fixed magazines exceeding 10 rounds: Any semi-automatic pistol with a fixed magazine capacity over 10 rounds is prohibited.
  4. Semi-automatic shotguns with fixed magazines exceeding 6 rounds: Any semi-automatic shotgun with a fixed magazine capacity over 6 rounds is prohibited.
  5. Shotguns with revolving cylinders: Any shotgun equipped with a revolving cylinder is prohibited.
  6. Semi-automatic firearms that accept belt ammunition feeding devices: Any semi-automatic firearm capable of accepting a belt-fed ammunition device is prohibited.

Note: The law specifically excludes .22 caliber rimfire rifles with attached tubular magazines. Bolt-action, lever-action, pump-action, and single-shot firearms are not classified as prohibited firearms, as they are not semi-automatic. Standard handguns, hunting rifles, and shotguns that do not meet the above feature criteria remain fully legal.

Large-Capacity Magazine Limits (Separate 2022 Law)#

Rhode Island's large-capacity magazine ban is a separate law that was enacted in 2022, not as part of S.359. That law prohibits the possession, sale, or transfer of any ammunition feeding device capable of holding more than 10 rounds of ammunition, regardless of the type of firearm it is designed for. This applies to all rifle, pistol, and shotgun magazines. Current owners had until late 2022 to modify, surrender, or transfer non-compliant magazines. The law remains in effect independently of the 2025 assault weapons ban.

Full List of Exemptions#

The bill carves out limited exceptions for specific groups and use cases:

  1. Law enforcement agencies: Law enforcement agencies acting under authority of the United States, the State of Rhode Island, or any of its political subdivisions may import, purchase, sell, offer to sell, or transfer prohibited firearms. This includes sales to other law enforcement agencies or to federally licensed firearm dealers.
  2. Federally licensed firearms dealers (FFLs): FFLs may sell, offer to sell, or transfer prohibited firearms to other FFLs, to law enforcement agencies, or to individuals outside the state who may lawfully possess such weapons. FFLs may also purchase prohibited firearms from individuals who lawfully possess them.
  3. Private owners selling to exempt parties: Any person who lawfully possesses a prohibited firearm may sell, offer to sell, or transfer their firearm to a federally licensed firearm dealer, or to an individual outside the state who may lawfully possess such weapon.

Note: Unlike some other states' assault weapons bans, Rhode Island's law does not include specific exemptions for military personnel for personal use, Curio and Relic (C&R) FFL holders, or private security companies. The exemptions are narrowly focused on law enforcement agencies, FFL transactions, and out-of-state transfers.

Requirements for Current Gun Owners of Grandfathered Items#

If you own a firearm that would be classified as a prohibited firearm under S.359, and you acquired it before July 1, 2026, you may keep it under the law's grandfather clause. Here is what you need to know:

  1. No registration required: The original version of the bill included a requirement for owners to register their grandfathered prohibited firearms and obtain certificates of possession. This registration clause was removed from the final version signed into law. You are not required to register your grandfathered items with state law enforcement.
  2. Proof of ownership: While no registration is required, it is advisable to retain written proof that you owned the item before July 1, 2026. Acceptable proof includes purchase receipts, serial number records dated before the effective date, dated photos of the item, or firearms transfer forms.
  3. Transfer restrictions: You may not sell, gift, or transfer any prohibited firearm to another Rhode Island resident after July 1, 2026, except to a federally licensed firearm dealer. You may sell or transfer to an individual outside the state who is legally allowed to own the item in their home state.
  4. Storage requirements: Rhode Island already has safe storage laws on the books. The assault weapons ban itself does not impose additional storage requirements beyond existing state law. However, proposed legislation in 2026 (H8073) would add specific storage mandates if passed.

Penalties for Violations#

S.359 establishes a uniform penalty structure for violations:

  • Manufacture, sale, offer to sell, transfer, or purchase of a prohibited firearm: Any person convicted of violating the ban faces imprisonment of up to 10 years, a fine of up to $10,000, and forfeiture of the prohibited firearm.

Note: Unlike some states with tiered penalties, Rhode Island applies the same maximum penalty for all violations of the manufacturing/sale/transfer ban. There is no separate penalty structure for first offenses versus subsequent offenses under S.359.

Common Misconceptions Debunked#

There is widespread misinformation about Rhode Island's assault weapons ban circulating online, so we're clarifying the most common false claims:

  1. Myth: The bill is called H5608 and was signed in 2024. Fact: The assault weapons ban is Senate Bill 359 (S.359) with companion House bill H.5436. It was signed into law on June 26, 2025, and takes effect July 1, 2026. The designation "H5608" does not correspond to this legislation.

  2. Myth: I have to surrender my AR-15 that I bought before the law took effect. Fact: All legally owned firearms acquired before July 1, 2026, are grandfathered. You may keep them indefinitely. No mandatory surrender or registration requirement is included in the final version of the law.

  3. Myth: All semi-automatic guns are banned under the assault weapons ban. Fact: Only semi-automatic firearms that match specific criteria are restricted — those with fixed magazines exceeding capacity limits (10 rounds for rifles and pistols, 6 rounds for shotguns), or those with detachable magazines and military-style features. Standard semi-automatic handguns for self-defense without prohibited features, semi-automatic hunting rifles without prohibited features, and standard semi-automatic shotguns are all fully legal.

  4. Myth: The 10-round magazine limit was part of the 2025 assault weapons ban. Fact: Rhode Island's large-capacity magazine ban is a separate law that was enacted in 2022, not in 2025. It prohibits possession, sale, or transfer of magazines holding more than 10 rounds and has been in effect since late 2022.

  5. Myth: The assault weapons ban makes possession of covered firearms illegal. Fact: S.359 bans the manufacture, sale, transfer, and purchase of prohibited firearms — not possession. Anyone who lawfully acquired a covered firearm before July 1, 2026, may continue to possess it. However, proposed legislation in 2026 (H8073) would add a possession ban if passed.

Next Steps for Rhode Island Residents#

Whether you are a gun owner or a general resident, you can take these steps to prepare for the law going into effect:

  1. Audit your firearms collection: Cross-reference all your firearms against the prohibited firearms definition in S.359 to determine if any of your items are covered by the grandfather clause.
  2. Gather proof of ownership: Locate purchase receipts, serial number records, or take dated photos of all firearms you own that may be covered by the law, and store these records in a secure location. Do this before July 1, 2026.
  3. Understand what you can and cannot do: After July 1, 2026, you may keep grandfathered firearms but cannot sell or transfer them to other Rhode Island residents. Sales are only permitted to FFLs or out-of-state buyers.
  4. Monitor pending legislation: In 2026, Rhode Island lawmakers introduced H8073, which would ban possession of assault-style weapons with no grandfather clause. The bill was heard on April 8, 2026, and held for further study. Stay informed about whether this or similar bills advance.
  5. Consult official guidance if you have questions: If you are unsure about the status of a firearm or how to comply with the law, consult a licensed Rhode Island firearms attorney for personalized advice.
  6. Voice feedback to your representatives: If you support or oppose provisions of the law, reach out to your local state House and Senate representatives to share your input.

References#

  1. Rhode Island General Assembly. (2025). Senate Bill 359 Substitute A — An Act Relating to Criminal Offenses — Unlawful Sale of Prohibited Firearms. Retrieved from https://webserver.rilegislature.gov/Billtext25/SenateText25/S0359A.pdf
  2. Office of Governor Dan McKee. (June 26, 2025). Governor McKee Signs Bill Banning the Sale of Assault Weapons. Retrieved from https://governor.ri.gov/press-releases/governor-mckee-signs-bill-banning-sale-assault-weapons
  3. Congressional Sportsmen's Foundation. (July 7, 2025). Update: Rhode Island State So-Called "Assault Weapon Ban" Signed by Governor. Retrieved from https://congressionalsportsmen.org/news/update-rhode-island-state-so-called-assault-weapon-ban-signed-by-governor/
  4. Everytown for Gun Safety. (March 27, 2025). Fact vs. Fiction on Rhode Island's Assault Weapons Ban Legislation (H 5436/SB 359). Retrieved from https://www.everytown.org/press/fact-vs-fiction-on-rhode-islands-assault-weapons-ban-legislation-h-5436-sb-359/
  5. Giffords Law Center. (December 5, 2025). Assault Weapons in Rhode Island. Retrieved from https://giffords.org/lawcenter/state-laws/assault-weapons-in-rhode-island/
  6. Rhode Island General Assembly. (2022). Large-Capacity Magazine Ban (2022-H 7543). See Rhode Island General Laws § 11-47.1-3.
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